Zidovudine (azido dideoxythymidine) inhibits characteristic early alterations of lymphoid cell populations in retrovirus-induced murine AIDS

Using flow cytometry technology and multiparameter analyses, we report early and characteristic alterations in lymphoid cell profile in spleen and lymph nodes due to LP-BM5 retrovirus disease (murine AIDS (MAIDS)) and the effect of azido dideoxythymidine, a nucleoside inhibitor, on these changes. MAIDS has been characterized by rapid and profound lymphoproliferation accompanied by hypergammaglobulinemia and immunosuppression. As early as 2 wk postinfection, there is a selective depletion of CD8+ cells whereas the total number of CD4+ cells increases throughout the first 8 wk of infection although the frequency is relatively stable. These population changes were partially delayed by oral AZT therapy for 6 wk postinfection. Ly-6C (AL-21) is expressed on roughly 50% of CD4+ and CD8+ cells in C57BL/6 mice. In MAIDS, the residual population of CD8+ cells is primarily Ly-6C+. The CD4+ cells have a transient increase in ratio of Ly-6C+/Ly-6C- cells at 2 wk postinfection but by 6 wk are primarily Ly-6C-. There was an increase in both the total number and percentage of Mac 1+ cells and a selective depletion of certain splenic B cell subpopulations. Azido dideoxythymidine delays these early population changes.     

Effects of prepubertal castration on the spinal motor nucleus of the ischiocavernosus muscle of the rat

Summary The location, number and size of the motoneurons innervating the ischiocavernosus muscle, identified by means of horseradish-peroxidase (HRP) retrograde transport, were studied (1) in adult untreated male rats, (2) in adult male rats castrated before puberty, and (3) in adult male rats castrated before puberty and injected with testosterone from the day of castration. After injection of HRP into the ischiocavernosus muscle, labeled motoneurons were found in the dorsolateral and dorsomedial columns of the lamina IX, at the level of L6 and S1 segments of the spinal cord. Morphometric analysis demonstrated that prepubertal castration induces a statistically significant reduction in the somatic and nuclear areas (40% and 35%, respectively, if compared to those of the control rats) of both the dorsolateral and dorsomedial motoneurons, but does not affect their number. The effects of castration are prevented by exogenous testosterone.Preliminary results were presented at the International Conference on Hormones, Brain and Behaviour, Liège, Belgium, August, 1989     

Neurophysins as markers of vasopressin and oxytocin release. A study in carcinoma of the lung

Vasopressin-neurophysin (hNpI), oxytocin-neurophysin (hNpII) and blood osmolality were assayed before any treatment in basal conditions in 35 patients suffering from lung carcinoma (20 oat cell, 6 undifferentiated and 9 well-differentiated epidermoid cell carcinomas). Plasma vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone, ADH) was also assayed in 7 of the 20 patients suffering from oat cell carcinoma. We found a close correlation (r = 0.98) between plasma ADH and hNpI levels in the 7 patients. Further, hNpI was elevated in 13 out of the 20 oat cell carcinoma patients and in none of the epidermoid-cell carcinoma group; however, searching for an abnormality of ADH secretion as reflected by a detectable plasma hNpI level together with subnormal plasma osmolality revealed 2 additional positive results in the oat cell carcinoma group, and 2 out of the 6 in the undifferentiated-cell carcinoma group. hNpII was increased together with an increase in hNpI in 6 oat cell carcinoma patients; it was specifically increased without hNpI increment in 2 additional oat cell carcinoma patients and in 2 patients of the undifferentiated-cell carcinoma group (different from the 2 positive for the hNpI-osmolality ratio). hNpI and hNpII were normal in the majority of undifferentiated and all of the differentiated epidermoid-cell carcinoma group. Hence, our results show that simultaneous measurements of hNpI, hNpII, and blood osmolality could detect abnormalities in 17 out of 20 oat cell carcinoma patients, in 4 of the 9 undifferentiated-cell carcinoma patients, but in none of the differentiated epidermoid-cell carcinoma patients, suggesting that the neurophysin assay can be used for the early detection of oat cell- and possibly other neuroendocrine-derived carcinomas.     

An ultrastructural analysis of the dispersed cell phase during development of the annual fish,Cynolebias

Cell ultrastructure was investigated during the dispersion phase of development in the annual fish Cynolebias. Three cellular populations encompass the yolk mass during dispersion, namely, 1) the yolk syncytial layer (YSL) or periblast, which lies directly over the surface of the yolk; 2) the deep blastomeres of the blastoderm, which engage in morphogenetic movements on the surface of the YSL and beneath the enveloping layer prior to forming the future embryo; and 3) the enveloping layer (EVL) of the blastoderm, which is a cohesive epithelium that forms the outermost cell layer of the blastoderm. Deep blastomeres contain numerous mitochondria and scattered glycogen rosettes that appear to function in the utilization of energy reserves. These cells also possess surface extensions such as filopodia and ruffles. Numerous microfilaments running parallel to the plasma membrane occur in cell extensions and in the cortical cytoplasm of neighboring blastomeres. In bleb-like extensions such as ruffles, microfilamentous stress fibers run parallel to the plane of the plasma membrane and prevent cellular organelles from entering the hyaline cap of the ruffle. Deep blastomeres also have basal projections that contain glycogen as well as pits in the basal membrane. Blastomeres move about using the YSL as a substrate. The YSL possesses specializations for nutrient uptake, storage, and transport such as numerous multivesicular bodies and large amounts of glycogen. Glycogen, in the rosette form, occurs in extraordinary amounts, virtually occluding the cytoplasm. Glycogen reserves are postulated to serve as an energy source during diapause. Glycogen is sometimes contained within villous projections that extend from the apical surface of the YSL. This configuration suggests the possibility of glycogen transport to the overlying deep blastomeres. Specializations of the EVL include apical tight junctions and basal lateral zonulae adherentes that interdigitate with those of adjacent EVL cells. The EVL serves as an impermeable membrane that protects the developing egg from the vicissitudes of its environment.     

Curvularia clavata as an aetiological agent of human skin infection

Curvularza cfavata was cultured from skin lesions in a 20-year-old female. The morphological characteristics of the isolate are described. The isolate was sensitive to clotrimazole at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 5 μg/ml.     

Protein factors that bind to the murine 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase ME-12 gene 5' upstream regulatory region

The murine 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase ME-12 gene regulatory region AB forms six complexes with protein factors in murine BALB/c 3T3 cells as demonstrated by the mobility shift electrophoresis assay under the reaction conditions used. The complexes, designated C1-C6 in order of their decreasing electrophoretic mobility, showed three distinctive specificities with regulatory region AB, element A, and element B as probes or competing DNA: 1) C1 is region AB-specific (this complex did not form with either element A or B used alone or as a mixture); 2) C5 formed both with element A and element B; 3) C2, C3, C4, and C6 formed with element B, but not A. The protein factors that give rise to these complexes show differential DNA binding activities in various buffer solutions at different pH values. The C4-forming protein factor is the interferon (IFN)-alpha/beta-stimulated response factor (ISRF) which shows element B specificity. It preexists in the cytoplasm. ISRF appears to be complexed to an inhibitor (ISRFI) in the cytoplasm and to dissociate from the inhibitor and to translocate into the nucleus upon treatment of cells with IFN-alpha/beta. We propose that IFN-alpha/beta treatment of BALB/c 3T3 can trigger at least two events: 1) loosening of a tight inhibitor-ISRF complex with the release of free ISRF; this may be mediated via phosphorylation of ISRF or ISRFI; 2) translocation of ISRF into the nucleus and binding to the enhancer element B, which results in the activation of 2',5'-oligoadenylate synthetase gene expression.     

Effect of mastectomy versus mastectomy plus adjuvant ovariectomy on prolactin response to TRH in breast cancer

The endocrine effects of ovariectomy need to be further investigated. The present study was carried out to evaluate the influence of the adjuvant ovariectomy on the mastectomy-induced changes in PRL response to TRH in breast cancer. The study included 34 patients with locally limited breast carcinoma, 18 of whom were treated with radical mastectomy, whereas the other 16 underwent mastectomy plus adjuvant ovariectomy. PRL secretion in response to TRH (200 mcg I.V. as bolus) was evaluated one day before and 7 days after surgery. In patients treated with mastectomy only, PRL increase after TRH was significantly higher after surgery than before. On the contrary, no difference was seen in patients treated with mastectomy plus ovariectomy. This study shows that the adjuvant ovariectomy may block the increase in PRL response to TRH induced by mastectomy in breast cancer.